We all thrive on positive feedback. We need lots of positive ‘strokes.’ When someone says as in ‘Alice in Wonderland’, Alice is asked to recite ‘You are old, Father William.’ which she duly does and is then told by the caterpillar: ‘That was wrong from beginning to end…..’ he undermined her completely, in that way. It seems to be a common experience amongst doctors to be told by their superiors how badly they have carried out a procedure. Instead of praise for what they have done right there is often a culture of pointing out all that was wrong. Have you ever experienced being put down in that way?
If that was your own experience of learning you may do the same to your pupils when you teach them how to carry out a new procedure.
Even if it’s true that the procedure needs some improving it is so much better to praise whatever you can before saying…..however you could improve the way you do that next time by doing it this way…’ Everyone likes to be told something that they have done correctly and then they are in a more receptive mood for hearing how they might improve the rest.
I remember as a medical student being the only female student around the bed of a patient (when I was studying medicine there was a strict quota of female medical students).
I was chosen to present the patient’s history and examination to the group of students and doctors gathered around the patient’s bed and remember wanting to disappear into a hole in the floor if only one would open up for me. The Professor of Medicine looked over his spectacles and tut-tutted as I said something which was obviously not what he wanted to hear from me. ‘Come , come, he said disapprovingly surely you know what this might be due to?
I heard no word of praise for what I had answered correctly only telling me how much I had answered wrongly and what I had apparently not known.
No offer of explanation about what I obviously didn’t understand. On reflection many of those medical student ward round memories were about being able to regurgitate facts and figures rather than demonstrating any ability to show understanding of the situation.
So when you reflect on your experience of feedback from superiors and/or feedback you give to people you are teaching, can you aim to give more positive strokes before giving constructive feedback?
I was dispirited by much Medicine as an undergraduate although greatly encouraged by the positive strokes I did get. I recall the latter very fondly ten years later.
I now try to be as positive and encouraging as some teaching me never were.
Do I succeed ? I hope so.
This impacts on the balance between assertiveness and being a push over – itself a big issue in professional life.
Positive feedback is vital but positive feedback can also incorporate the negative albeit appropriately framed to empower you to go on and do better!